Broncos can't shake hex in Miami

MIAMI (AP) -- The Denver Broncos were in control, and the Miami
Dolphins were in trouble. Then, in the time it took 275-pound
defensive end Kenny Mixon to run 56 yards with an interception, the
game turned around.

Dolphins running back Lamar Smith finished with only 36 yards on 15 carries, with one TD.

"I saw the ball coming, and it was slow motion for a second,"
Mixon said. "I said, `Uh oh, I've got to catch this thing.' It
stuck in my mitts, and I took it to the house."

Intercepting a pass that Brian Griese tried to throw away, Mixon
scored the go-ahead touchdown on his first NFL interception during
a remarkable sequence that helped the Dolphins beat Denver 21-10
Sunday.

Miami improved to 8-3 and took sole possession of the AFC East
lead. The New York Jets fell one game back by losing to New England
17-16.

Denver took a 10-0 lead into the final period, but two turnovers
helped the Dolphins score 21 points in 4:46. They came from behind
in the fourth quarter to win for the fifth time this season,
including four of their past six games.

Do you think the Broncos will make the playoffs?
No. Denver is in tough shape.

The Broncos have had so many injuries on offense -- they're hurting and depleted. Both Pro Bowl receivers are out (Ed McCaffrey for the season, while Rod Smith could be back next week). RB Terrell Davis has missed time due to injury, and the offensive line is beat-up. I think QB Brian Griese has been a little hurt, too.

All the problems on offense have put added pressure on the defense, but the D just isn't good enough to carry them.

ESPN.com's Vinny Cerrato was director of player personnel for the Redskins and 49ers.

"There is a no-quit attitude on this team," coach Dave
Wannstedt said. "Anyone who has been watching the games should see
it."

The Broncos, sputtering again on offense with an injury-plagued
receiving corps, fell to 6-6. Coach Mike Shanahan said his team
probably must win its final four games to make the playoffs.

"We figured out the math one week ago -- four out of four,"
Shanahan said.

The Broncos have never won in six games at Miami, and this
defeat ranked with the most galling.

The Dolphins' offense mounted its only scoring march and cut the
deficit to 10-7 with 13:45 left on Jay Fiedler's 11-yard touchdown
pass to Chris Chambers. That ended a stretch of seven consecutive
quarters at home without a point for Miami.

On Denver's next series, Griese tried to get rid of the ball on
a blitz as he was hit by Jason Taylor, and the errant pass bounced
off Mixon's left thigh and into his arms.

"One play changed everything, and it was my fault," Griese
said. "If I take a sack, we probably win."

Mixon had enough of a head start up the field that the smaller,
faster opponents giving chase couldn't catch him.

The stunning turnaround spoiled Griese's return to Miami and
Terrell Davis' return to the Denver lineup.

Griese, playing his first NFL game in his hometown, worked again
with inexperienced receivers and went 18-for-33 for 135 yards. The
Broncos played without the league's leading receiver, Rod Smith,
who sat out the game because of a sprained ankle.

Davis, making only his fourth start of the season because of
knee injuries, carried 20 times for 97 yards.

"It felt like the first day of training camp," he said.

Following a punt-filled first half, the Broncos took the
second-half kickoff and moved 75 yards in 13 plays for a 10-0 lead.
They converted three third-down conversions during the drive, which
ended with Griese's 4-yard touchdown pass to Desmond Clark.

That was Griese's 20th touchdown pass. He has thrown at least
one scoring pass in every game this season.

But the Broncos lost even though they had the ball for nearly 35
minutes and limited the Dolphins to 218 yards.

"It hurts," Davis said. "We were putting some good drives
together. Then in an instant we turn it over twice and we're down
21-10."

Game notesChambers bruised his left ribs in the fourth quarter. He
and cornerback Sam Madison, who sat out with a shoulder injury, are
both expected to play next Monday night against the Indianapolis
Colts, Wannstedt said. . ... Denver linebacker Lee Woodall strained
his left hamstring and missed most of the second half. ... The
Broncos lost for only the fifth time in their past 59 games when
leading at halftime. ... The Dolphins have won six consecutive
regular-season games against Denver, but the Broncos beat Miami in
a playoff game three seasons ago.